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So when the anthology series Liquid Television began in 1991, it felt like an organic development thanks to the channel's established love of cartoons. Promising to showcase original works, existing shorts, the occasional music video and other weird stuff that would previously only been seen on the art film circuit, the show was an instant success that paved the way for an animation revolution that we are still in the midst of (it also spun off several series of its own, as you will soon see). Unfortunately, save for a long out-of-print best of compilation, the series is unavailable on DVD at this time. All hope is not lost however. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, it lives on and is largely as fascinating as ever. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show, here's a look at Liquid Television's 20 greatest segments. From the insane to the hilarious and back again, let's examine some of the most innovative cartoons ever featured on basic cable.
20) Dad, I'm in Jail
In a perfect world, Was (Not Was) would be known more for the above bit of psychotronic insanity instead of their insipid hit "Walking the Dinosaur." I'm not sure exactly what the intent of this cartoon was, but I suppose it had something to do with inducing nightmares and/or vomiting. Awesome.
19) Koko's Earth Control
Originally released in 1928, Max and Dave Fleischer's "Koko's Earth Control" was given a slight techno soundtrack by the composing team Tomandandy when it was featured in an episode from the series' second season. Because of the strength of the source material, the aural flourishes seem a bit superfluous. As any animation expert will agree, the inclusion of the segment's ultimate legacy was to bring Koko out of the inkwell and into the homes of 1990s audiences so that they could be introduced to the character's numerous charms.
18) Lea Press On Limbs
This spoof of the type of commercials that regularly run during Liquid Television is a brilliant representation of the junk product zeitgeist that was the early 1990s (and still lives on today thanks to the Snuggie and other silly products that have captured our hearts, minds and wallets).
17) Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople) from They Might Be Giants on Vimeo.
MTV largely made They Might Be Giants. The network so loved their early videos that they often featured them on Post-Modern MTV, 120 Minutes and even AL TV before the fellas ignited the college radio charts (they were featured on Nickelodeon's long-missed video show Nick Rocks frequently as well, and if any of y'all have their appearance on MTV's Randee of the Redwoods election special please YouTube it immediately). The point that I am making here is that MTV looked for any opportunity to showcase T.M.B.G. They even shoehorned the video for their cover of The Four Lads' "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" into a Liquid Television episode. By combining hand-drawn animation with stop motion footage of a paper-máché cityscape, graphic artists Mark Marek and J. Otto Seibold crafted a video that brilliantly compliments the song's frantic pacing. I just wonder whatever happened to the model of the Johns creature.16) Milton
Before Office Space became the movie your co-workers irritate the piss out of you by quoting non-stop, it was a series of animated shorts. The best of which features the now-familiar pain of Milton (voiced by Mike Judge), whose slow-burning fury over being passive aggressively pushed around has rung true with cubicle jockeys the world over. There's no embeddable link available, so I'm gonna need you to go ahead and watch it here.
15) Cut Up Camera
Point to discuss: Is the above video a biting criticism of the inanity of family television or merely wish fulfillment for anyone who ever wanted to punch Bob Saget in the dick?
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